Liverpool FC: Juan Mata, Others Who Might Offer a Solution to Winger Worry

With the transfer window open, Liverpool FC has been linked with loads of new and upcoming talents. But many feel the area lacking creativity is the midfield, particularly the wings.

Liverpool have had Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez filling up those positions, but they lack the creativity of natural wingers. So King Kenny and Damien Comolli have started looking for new recruits.

So far Liverpool have been linked with at least four prominent names.  

Juan Mata, Valencia

 At 23 he most definitely fits into FSG’s “young and talented” plan.

As of now, Mata has already played 129 games and scored 33 goals—a feat achieved only by the best of the best, and certainly fans would expect nothing less for their club. Also, last season was a good one for him, scoring eight goals along with 12 assists.

Keeping these factors in mind, the price tag would be a hefty one.

Fans expecting him for 20 million euro would be surprised with Valencia’s evaluation. And even if the two clubs do agree on a fee, it is difficult to see him join LFC as he will be looking for Champions League football.

Eden Hazard, Lille

Young and talented again. Has a good knack for scoring, too. Won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award, becoming the youngest player to win it. Quick and tricky like Luis Suarez, but the question still remains: How will this help Andy Carroll?

He is not known to be a trusty wide-man, but a person who cuts in and shoots. He can play behind the striker, too, but we already have Steven Gerrard and Raul Meireles for that. Hazard has constantly said that he wants to remain at Lille for at least another year.

He would probably be evaluated at 22 million euro. 

Santi Cazorla, Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine’s man is 26 and at the peak of his career. There exists absolutely no doubt about Cazorla's quality.

He scored 23 goals for Villarreal and has played for his country 33 times. He is also known for his pin-point crossing. Though he has a 28 million euro buyout clause, Liverpool might be able to persuade Villarreal to sell at around 18 million euro.

Villarreal do have the Champions League card to play, but Pepe Reina might just be able to persuade his Spanish teammate. 

Stewart Downing, Aston Villa

Another 26 year old heavily linked with Liverpool in the past week, Downing is not the quickest, not the mesmerizing type, but can deliver good crosses frequently.

Above all he is English.

These two attributes seems to be of top priority to King Kenny. But apprehensions remain amongst the fans. He is too injury-prone, not exactly a world class player and most of all Aston Villa want 18 million euro for him. Fans do believe that he is not worth more than 12 million. If the deal does go through for less than 12 million it would be a fairly good one.     

Others: Marko Marin, Werder Bremen; Arda Turan, Galatasaray

Marko Marin: Quick and smart, but he has constantly refused to budge from the Bundesliga. His records are impressive, though. In his 177 appearances so far, he has scored 27 goals and provided 48 assist.  

Arda Turan: One of the most skillful and technically gifted youngster. Liverpool was interested in him a year ago, but the interest has waned over the past season. He was ranked eighth in a selection of the 100 Best Young Football Players in the World, published by Spanish magazine "Don Balón" in July 2008 and is known to be a Liverpool fan. What more can one need?